Midsummer Med-fest

Settled summer weather made itself at home during the second half of June. It's been a quiet period on the bird front – unsurprisingly – as the seemingly never-ending spring finally came to an end. My avian efforts have been a little bit limited as well, though you can never pause in local birding as the unexpected is always possible, recently in the form of an extraordinary Mediterranean Gull gathering ...

Mediterranean Gulls.

Friday 16th

A warm, sunny pre-work walk around Court Farm, Hambledon, produced three Yellowhammers (including a singing male and a female gathering insects from an oak), four Skylarks and seven Whitethroats.

Court Farm.

Saturday 17th

No birding.

Sunday 18th

A hazy, rather muggy morning led me to Frensham Great Pond. Things were quiet initially – the Cetti's Warbler was in song again in the eastern reedbed and a Firecrest was near the hotel. A couple of Mediterranean Gulls then appeared, to my surprise, then a third, then a fourth …

Some five minutes later, and a minimum of 19 birds were around, seemingly foraging on flying insects. Most were adults – at least 16 – with two second-summers and a first-summer present too. It was lovely to watch them dashing overhead, occasionally dropping down low to the water.

Mediterranean Gulls.

A cool and whacky mid-June record, these presumed failed or non-breeders must have been part of a flock Shaun had yesterday that I later found out about, totalling an impressive 26 individuals. There had been a recent run of birds just over the border in north-east Hampshire, too, including no fewer than 300 at Passfield on Friday and 25 at Woolmer Pond yesterday. These birds are the first in south-west Surrey this year, following an unusually barren spring for the species locally.

Monday 19th

A Little Egret and a family party of Linnets flew over Eashing Fields during a short late morning walk.

Skylark.

Tuesday 20th

No birding.

Wednesday 21st

No birding.

Thursday 22nd

It had clouded over a little at the end of a warm summer's day when I headed to the Devil's Punch Bowl/Hindhead Common. Nightjar action got going 10 minutes after sunset and, although the performance from at least five birds tonight was fairly understated, it was lovely to still have light and warmth outdoors at 10 pm.

Nightjar.

A roding Woodcock and a hooting Tawny Owl were also noted.

Friday 23rd

I walked the Lammas Lands this morning, which was another warm one, despite the scattered cloud. I was pleased to spot a fresh-looking juvenile Sedge Warbler on Catteshall Meadow – in fact there may have been two. Some recently fledged Whitethroats were nearby as well.

Waverley Council's decision to delay grazing on the meadow has definitely paid off this year with Reed Bunting joining Sedge Warbler and Whitethroat as one of the beneficiaries – I was treated to views of an adult pair feeding noisy juveniles, plus two males were in full song, suggesting second broods.

Reed Buntings.

Saturday 24th

No birding.

Sunday 25th

I teamed up with Dave this morning, who was seeking a couple of additions to his south-west Surrey year list. It was a glorious summer morning and our first location was Chiddingfold Forest where, after a considerable search, we briefly and underwhelmingly heard a distant Turtle Dove. 

It was otherwise quiet, with the forest in full summer lull mode now, though a few Marsh Tits and Garden Warblers and a singing Firecrest were noted. A couple of Purple Hairstreaks were enjoying the early morning sun too.

We then headed to Frensham Great Pond. Following on from last weekend's Mediterranean Gull-fest, Shaun had a group of 30 yesterday. Straight away we picked up a group of 50 or so above the beach, but as we scanned it was clear many more were around.

Mediterranean Gulls.

We rang Shaun, who also had birds over the Little Pond. It was quite amazing watching a plume of Mediterranean Gulls silently cruising high overhead. After a fair while scanning and counting repeatedly, we settled on a very minimum estimate of 150 birds – quite extraordinary and a new record count for Surrey!

Feeding conditions are presumably just right for these birds here at the moment, with whatever flying insect they're feeding on obviously aplenty. After a while the birds drifted south, presumably back to the coast. Are these failed breeders that are roaming around after a bird flu decimated breeding campaign? Or could they be taking food back to hungry chicks on their coastal colony? Who knows, but it's a fascinating occurrence, albeit perhaps tinged with a bit of sorrow as a long summer of bad bird flu news nationally rumbles on …

Mediterranean Gulls.

Incidental observations during a hot, sunny afternoon bike ride included Small Heath, Marbled White and Small Copper on the wing at Peper Harow and a Garden Warbler at Weyburn Meadows (plus, pleasingly, a few House Martin nests in the new housing estate).

Monday 26th

No birding.

Tuesday 27th

No birding.

Wednesday 28th

A smart Swallow-tailed Moth was resting in the garden in the late afternoon.

Swallow-tailed Moth.

Thursday 29th

It was a rainy, grey morning, following a night of thunderstorms. Upon arriving at Frensham Great Pond I was surprised to see a flock of Common Terns zipping about – 20 in total. This is a notably high count for any time of the year in south-west Surrey but especially so in June, and I fear that these birds were probably 'bird flu refugees', having abandoned a colony somewhere.

Common Terns.

Among them was a 'portlandica' second-year bird – a plumage I very rarely see locally. Eventually, as the rain eased off, 17 of them circled up and departed south …

'Portlandica' Common Tern.

On the way back I decided to do a little vis-mig from Eashing Fields before work, with conditions good for Swift passage given the north-westerly breeze and cloud cover. This was indeed in evidence, with 164 birds totted up moving west in a 45-minute scan. Pretty decent all things considered – I wonder how many I'd have counted if my desk didn't beckon …

Swift.

Friday 30th

I walked Unstead Water Meadows this morning, which was a bit of a warbler-fest, including a welcome sighting of a family party of Cetti's Warblers. They were very vocal, with at least two juveniles present, and it was pleasing to confirm breeding here. A minimum of two Sedge Warblers and a single Reed Warbler were in song too.

With conditions similar to yesterday, minus the rain, I did another vis-mig at Eashing Fields late morning. Swifts were moving again and, in 40 minutes, I clocked 106 going west/south-west, but passage was broader, looser and less direct than yesterday.

Eashing Fields.

Where to Watch Birds in Surrey and Sussex

Matt Phelps and I have spent the last 18 or so months writing the new Where to Watch Birds in Surrey and Sussex, which will be published by Bloomsbury early next year. You can pre-order a copy here (please do!).

It was great fun writing the book, a title which I have had various editions of since I was a young child. In fact, I have each previous edition on my bookshelf – but the last one (the fourth) was published as long ago as 2009. As a result, and given we couldn't recycle copy from the previous edition, there was lots of work for Matt and I to do to get the text up to date. At times it was quite arduous and it took up a hell of a lot of both of our free time – but it feels great to have got it finished and I look forward to having a copy in my hands! 

There are lots of new sites featured – and species too, including locales for some birds not previously made public. I had great fun visiting every featured site in Surrey during the research process, including far-flung corners of the county I'd not previously visited, as well as sites I'd not been to for years.

Finally, it goes without saying that I'm hugely indebted to the people who helped me out, be it with proofing sections or answering questions, all of whom are credited in the book.

A Jekyll and Hyde June half

The first half of June has itself been defined by two halves. The opening nine days were frankly bizarre: cool or even chilly mornings with a breezy north-easterly wind made most early sessions in the field feel like April. This atypical summer weather was in keeping with an unusual late run of wader migration, too. However, during the weekend of 10-11th warm, settled conditions finally rumbled in, bringing with it the hottest days of the year so far – and it now finally seems like birding 'High Summer' is here.

Oystercatcher.

Thursday 1st

No birding.

Friday 2nd

With a chilly north-easterly breeze and leaden grey skies, it really didn't feel like June at Unstead SF this morning. The presence of a Common Sandpiper and the moulting drake Gadwall added to the unseasonal vibe – both species I have rarely recorded locally in June down the years, especially the former.

Cetti's and Reed Warblers and five eclipse drake Mandarin were also present.

Canada Geese.

I then walked the Eashing stretch of the Wey, where Spotted Flycatcher, Firecrest, Garden Warbler and Red-legged Partridge were noted, along with recently fledged juveniles of nine species, including four Mandarin ducklings that were swimming upriver with mother in tow.

Red-legged Partridge and Mandarin.

Later in the day I joined Jeremy to ring one of the Goshawk nests in south-west Surrey. A healthy brood of four chicks – two males and two females – were banded, which was a pleasing result after we found the other nest to have failed last week.

Saturday 3rd

Another grey and breezy morning, this time at Tuesley, where I was pleased to encounter a flyover Oystercatcher. The noisy individual arrived from the south, circled low once then headed off north. Despite the crazy late wader northbound passage underway nationally at present, it's tempting to think this bird was a failed breeder already heading south … migration never stops!

Oystercatcher.

Sunday 4th

No birding.

Monday 5th

No birding.

Tuesday 6th

Yet another cloudy, cool morning. I popped to Tuesley and was surprised to log another Oystercatcher, this one taking flight immediately and disappearing south. Adrian S had one at Unstead SF first bells and I suspect this was the same individual. 

A Common Sandpiper was present too – two species highlighting the bizarre marriage of spring and autumn that seems to be the theme of 'summer' 2023 so far.

Wednesday 7th

My first visit to Thursley for nearly a month was fairly decent, despite the continuing grey skies and really quite chilly north-easterly wind. The highlight was a Greenshank high north over Pudmore, calling as it went. An overdue site tick for me, in any other spring this would seem freakishly late … the male Curlew (taking food out to Ockley), the Teal pair, 10 Tufted Duck and a Water Rail were also at Pudmore.

Curlew and Teal.

Other bits of note among 49 species included Hobby, both Dartford and Willow Warblers taking food to nests, a Woodlark family party, a scattering of juvenile Stonechats and a male Redstart carrying food.

Stonechat.

Thursday 8th

After a long gap between my previous two Thursley visits, I wasn't expecting to be back as soon as this morning, but when Dave called with news of a male Red-backed Shrike I was quickly on my way! Despite missing his initial calls and messages I was still able to get there in good time and, for a short period, was alone with the bird as it roved around distantly in the Ladies Pool area north of South Bog.

Red-backed Shrike.

Eventually a few people turned up and soon a small crowd was assembled. The bird stayed far away but good views were still to be had. A lovely find indeed by Dave – Mr Thursley – it represents the first south-west Surrey record since 2018 (which was also at Thursley, and in exactly the same part of the site!). It's only the eighth SWS record since the species ceased breeding in the region in the late 1960s, too …

Other bits noted during a warm and breezy hour included two Hobbies and Whitethroat and Reed Bunting carrying food. 

Hobby.

Friday 9th

Once more it was grey, cool and breezy this morning – and again a wader species made it on to my local year list, this time a male Little Ringed Plover at Tuesley. A most unseasonal record, it continues this bizarre start to June that has felt more like late April. Perhaps this bird was a failed or non-breeder …

Little Ringed Plover.

In Tuesley terms, a partial eclipse drake Gadwall was far rarer – only the second site record! A Lesser Black-backed Gull was also about.

I then headed to Snowdenham Mill Pond, where I was pleased to see the Mute Swan pair had hatched five cygnets. A Kingfisher darted over the north end too.

Afterwards I walked the Lammas Lands. Despite the uncomfortable wind there was plenty of signs of breeding, including a Sedge Warbler carrying food and a Reed Bunting pair feeding young. A Little Egret flew downriver, plenty of Swifts swirled overhead (will they ever get down to breeding?) and some smart Ragged Robin was noted among the wildflowers.

Lesser Stitchwort.

It was warm and sunny by late morning, when a Hobby drifted north over the village.

Saturday 10th

Finally, a warm and sunny morning, and a fine one to amble around Chiddingfold Forest. Turtle Doves eluded me today, though I did record one Spotted Flycatcher, two each of Siskin, Marsh Tit and Firecrest, six Garden Warblers (including an adult feeding juveniles) and a croaking Nightingale.

A surprising observation in the evening was a Cuckoo flying south-west over a Milford garden.

Sunday 11th

I walked Shackleford this morning, which again was sunny and warm. The Stonechat pair were joined by four juveniles today, confirming successful breeding. Other bits during a quiet stroll included a Little Owl and seven Lesser Black-backed Gulls north. 

Stonechat, Kestrel, Pied Wagtail and Little Owl.

A pair of Gadwall and a female Mandarin with six small ducklings were noted at Snowdenham Mill Pond late afternoon.

Monday 12th

No birding.

Tuesday 13th

I walked the Wey between Shalford and Farncombe this sunny and warm morning, starting at Shalford Water Meadows. Some 41 species was OK going, and included two Sedge and one Reed Warblers, two Little Egrets on St Catherine's Pool, a singing Stonechat and a displaying Sparrowhawk.

Sparrowhawk and Little Egret.

The Peasmarsh stretch was quiet, though yielded a singing Firecrest at Unstead Lock. It was then on to Unstead Water Meadows, where an impressive four Sedge Warblers included three singing males and a silent bird carrying food. What a great year for this species in south-west Surrey. A Garden Warbler was also in song.

In the evening, a Little Egret flew over the garden.

Wednesday 14th

It was another fine, sunny morning, with a cooling northerly breeze. An hour and a quarter walking around the Devil's Punch Bowl featured typical fare, with two Siskins, Willow Warbler, two Garden Warblers and Firecrest included.

I don't think I can remember a report of a bird feeling as much like a bolt from the blue than that of a WhatsApp message stating that there was a Citrine Wagtail at the London Wetland Centre at lunchtime. A ridiculous inland bird and a species with one previous Surrey record that many thought would be a lifetime blocker, I simply had to get to Barnes – and thankfully was able to.

In the baking sunshine, a scramble to the Peacock Tower soon yielded an excited gathering of birders – and brief views of the Citrine Wagtail, a simply sumptuous male, with a dazzling yellow head and ash-grey mantle. During the next hour and a half it was very mobile, but thankfully some of us were treated to awesome – albeit brief – views from WWF hide. It was heard to call a few times too.

Citrine Wagtail.

Other bits noted a warm session included Little Ringed Plover, Common Tern, 20 or so Lapwings and a Reed Warbler carrying food. It was good to catch up with various people too.

What a sensational bird the wagtail was. And a major hat's off to finder Wendy Newnham. Without doubt one of the best birds I've ever seen in the vice-county, it was also a British lifer, having only previously seen the species on breeding grounds in eastern Poland. 

Citrine Wagtail.

Thursday 15th

At lunchtime I walked Eashing Fields. Save the Whitethroat pair feeding two juveniles, the session was quiet and wouldn't usually merit a mention on this blog, but it was a landmark of sorts – my 5,000th complete checklist submitted to eBird.